TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION (TDCS) FOR POST- STROKE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION FOLLOWING SARS-COV2 INFECTION AND NEUROCOVID-19 CONTRACTION

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is effective in the management of patients with depression and anxiety. However, it is not known if it is effective in the case of anxiety and depression following SARS-CoV2 and NeuroCOVID-19 infection. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of stimulating the brain with the use of a tDCS protocol ameliorated by a functional neuromarker, and here based on HBI methodology to reduce anxiety and depression following SARS-CoV2 infection and NeuroCOVID-19 contraction. A 47-year-old patient manifested severe anxiety and depression following a stroke following SARS-CoV2 infection and Neuro- COVID-19 contraction. The anxiety and depression were diagnosed using the HAD-Scale (Zigmond, Snaith 1983). A score of 8 to 10 is broad ly accepted as indicating mild symptoms, a score between 11- 16 suggests moderate anxiety or depression, and a score of 16 or more indicates severe anxiety or depressive symptoms. The patient received anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC using two different application protocols. Initially, a stimulation session of 2 milliamperes (mA) intensity for 20 minutes was administered every working day for 2 weeks. After 3 weeks, she subsequently received 7 daily sessions of periodic stimulations of an intensity of 2 mA for 13 minutes each with 20 minutes intersession intervals for 1 week. It was found that tDCS delivered via the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was effective in the reduction of post-stroke anxiety and depression following SARS- CoV2 infection and NeuroCOVID-19 contraction. Immediately follow- ing the final session of the initial protocol of stimulation, the Had Score was reduced for anxiety from 18 to 6 points, and for depression from 17 to 5 points and the symptoms disappeared. The HBI methodology allowed for the detection of a functional neuromarker of anxiety and depression and the development of a tDCS protocol. It was found that tDCS delivered via the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was effective in the reduction of post-stroke anxiety and depression following SARS-CoV2 infection and NeuroCOVID-19 contraction.